Australian swimming star Kyle Chalmers has announced plans to retire from the pool following next year's Olympic Games.
The 25-year-old dropped the bombshell on SEN radio on Wednesday morning.
"It will be the last Olympics for me… I'll be 26," Chalmers said.
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"I'm the oldest in the marshalling room. I'll be old and ready to start the next chapter of my life."
Chalmers burst onto the world scene as an 18-year-old when he won 100m freestyle gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
His swim of 47.58 also broke the world junior record, setting high expectations for the young star.
Unfortunately shoulder injuries then hampered his career, but he rallied to win 100m freestyle silver at Tokyo 2020, finishing only 0.6 seconds behind Caeleb Dressel.
Chalmers broke the short course 100m freestyle world record at the 2021 Swimming World Cup in Kazan, and just last month won gold at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
Chalmers previously threatened to walk away from swimming following intense scrutiny surrounding his private life at last year's Commonwealth Games.
Chalmers was quizzed constantly about the fact his former partner, Emma McKeon, was now in a relationship with their fellow team member Cody Simpson.
Speaking on a podcast earlier this year, Chalmers revealed he almost quit swimming after a poolside interview with Olympic great Giaan Rooney.
"I think for me, I won't stop and speak to Giaan or speak on pool deck now… My family pay to be in the stands, my grandparents come across to watch the meets … I'm so proud of my achievement and then I get out of the pool and have that kind of happen," Chalmers said.
"It's just not worth (it), I have no obligation to stop.
"It was very, very fatiguing and exhausting. It was something I didn't want to deal with."
Chalmers will have to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 but is considered a strong chance to make the team following his win in Japan.
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